Heat treating apparatus



May 29, 1956 H. N. IPSEN 2,747,855

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m Q-qrcIcLpu-er C340,. t aw May 29, 1956 H. N. IPSEN 2,747,855

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVESNTO -xT-ronmEl United States Patent 2,747,855 HEAT TREATING APPARATUS HaroldN. Ipsen, Rockford, 133. Application September 11, 1951, Serial No.246,088 9 Claims. (Cl. 2664) This invention relates to heat treatingapparatus of the type in which a heating chamber is associated with anenclosure around an adjacent quenching tank having an elevator ontowhich the heated work or a tray containing the same may be transferredand lowered into the quenching liquid while being maintained in an inertor nonoxidizing atmosphere.

The general object is to provide, in heat treating apparatus of theabove character, a novel mechanism which is manually operable from theexterior of the apparatus to enable the work to be transferred from theheating chamber to the quenching tank, which holds the work tray inproper position and against cocking during its transfer, and which doesnot interfere with the lowering and raising of the work into and out ofthe quenching bath.

A more detailed object is to provide such a transfer mechanism havingtwo laterally spaced members extending through the quenching chamber andthe outer wall of the latter and mounted for endwise sliding to elfectthe transfer and also for turning into and out of engagement with a worktray disposed between the members.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of slidably supportingthe transfer members and adapting the quenching elevator for actuationby an overhead operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinalsectional view of head treating apparatus embodying the novel featuresof the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the work transfer mech anism and thequenching elevator platform.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the transfer mechanism with the parts thereofin a different position.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings to illustrate the invention, thework to be treated is heated in the chamber 11 of a furnace having inletand outlet openings -12 and 13 controlled by doors 14 and 15.Conventional heating elements 16 within or surrounding the chamber 11bring the work, usually carried in a tray 17, to the desired temperaturewhile the tray is resting on the floor 18 of the chamber. a

After the work has been heated the tray 17 is transferred out of thefurnace through the exit opening 13 into a closed quenching chamber andonto an elevator 19 by which it is lowered into a quenching bath 20 in atank 21 adjacent to and below the furnace opening 13. Inits elevatedposition (Fig. 1), the platform 22 is at the level of the furnace floor18. in the quenching chamber 10 taken along the is a stationary shelf 23disposed adjacent and beyond the outer end of the platform 22 to receiveeach tray 17 as it is slid off from the plat- At the same level andwithice form preparatory to removal from the quenching chamber. Theplatform 22 and the shelf 23 may comprise laterally spaced bars 24rigidly connected by rounded crossbars across which the tray will slideeasily. In its vertical movements, the platform 22 is guided along bars22 secured to the tank walls and received in notches 22 in theprojecting ends of a crossbar 22 on the platform.

In order that the heating and the quenching may be performed under acontrolled atmosphere, the quenching chamber 10 is defined by a box-likecasing 25 covering the tank 21 and enclosing the furnace opening 13, theelevator 19, and the shelf 23. The end wall 26 of the casing 25 adjacentthe shelf has an exit opening 27 therein alined with the furnace outlet13 and normally closed by a door 28 which may he slid upwardly when itis desired to withdraw a tray of treated workpieces resting on the shelf23.

The elevator platform 22 may be raised and lowered by" an overloadactuator 29 herein comprising a piston 30= slidable within a verticalcylinder 31 mounted on the top= of the casing 25 with its rod 32extending downwardly and connected to the platform 22 through aframework 33. Herein, the framework 33 comprises brackets 35 rigid withand upstanding from each side of the platform 22 and joined at the upperends by a bar 36 cooperating with the brackets to define an opening 34horizontally alined with the furnace outlet 13, and substantially widerthan the work tray. A horizontal member 37 projecting rigidly from themember 36 overlies the central portion of the platform 22 and isconnected to the lower end of the actuator rod 32. This member 37 isspaced inwardly from the side brackets to define openings 37 the purposeof which will appear later.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel mechanismextending horizontally through the quenching chamber 10 and the outercasing wall 26 and manually operable from a point externally of thequenching chamber to slide into and out of the heating chamber 11through the opening 13 while being rotatable into and out of engagementwith the work tray to be removed from the furnace. To this end, thetransfer mechanism comprises two parallel elongated rods 38 disposedabove and movable endwise along the heating chamber floor 18, theelevator platform 2 and the shelf 23 and spaced apart to receive thetray 17 between them. Each rod 38 is journaled in and slidable endwisethrough a bearing 38* mounted in the outer wall 26 of the casing 25. Theoutwardly projecting ends of the rods are journaled in opposite ends ofa bar 53 which is held against axial shifting along the rods and servesto hold the outer end portions of the rods properly spaced apart whenretracted through the wall 26 as shown in Fig. 4.

At a point adjacent the inner end of the platform 22, each rod 38extends through a hole 45 in a bar 46 rigid with the casing-25 andslidably supporting the inner end portion of the rod. The rods 38 arethus properly guided and spaced apart so as to lie'along and adjacentopposite sides of the tray. Thus, they perform the additional functionof holding the tray against lateral displacement or twisting as it isbeing slid along the furnace floor or along the top of the platform 22.

Rigid with and projecting laterally from the extreme inner end of eachrod 38 is a short finger 39 with anoutwardly projecting lug 39 formed asan integral part thereof. By turning of the rod, the fingers may beswung in behind a transverse part of the tray, in this instance the endwall of the trayas shown in Fig. 3. After the rods are turned to swingthe fingers upwardly and out wardly into vertical position as shown inFig.4, they without engagement with the latter.

When the fingers.

are disposed horizontally, they will, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 abutagainst the guides 46 with the lugs, which are substantially longer thanthe width of the guides, extending to the edge of the platform 22.

To enable a work tray resting on the platform 22 after quenching to betransferred onto the shelf 23 simultaneously with the transfer of aheated tray out of the chamber 11, a second finger 40 with a shorter lug40 is secured on the opposite side of the guide 46 to each rod in thesame angular position as the fingers 39 and spaced along the rods fromthe latter a distance such that when the finger 39 is advanced into thefurnace as shown in Fig. 1, and swung inwardly behind a tray on thefioor 18, the fingers 40 will be swung in behind the inner end of a trayresting on the elevator platform in a location determined by the fingers39 in the previous transfer of the tray out of the furnace. Inwardmovement of the transfer rods is limited by engagement of the crossbar53 with the casing wall 26, while outward movement is similarly limitedby the fingers 39 coacting with the guide 46.

Means manually operable from a point outside the casing 25 is providedfor enabling the rods 38 to be turned thereby swinging the fingers 39and 40 into and out of engagement with the trays 17 in the chambers 10and 11. While this means may take the form of separate handles, it ispreferred to employ a single handle 47 connected to the rods 38 in amanner such as to swing the two in opposite directions betweenhorizontal tray engaging positions (Fig. and vertical or inactivepositions (Fig. 4). Herein, the handle 47 comprises the upstanding endof a lever 47 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a horizontal pivot 48rigid with and projecting outwardly from a bar 53 joining the ends ofthe rods 38 outwardly beyond the wall 26 and the bearings 38 The bar 53constitutes a handle which may be grasped conveniently in pulling therods 38 and the trays outwardly or pushing the rods inwardly.

At points spaced equal distances on opposite sides of the fulcrum 48,the lever 47 is pivotally connected through oppositely projecting links49 and 50 to the free ends of crank arms 51 and 52 fast on the outerends of the rods 38. The angular spacing of the arms is such that whenthe handle 47 is swung to the right to a position determined by a stop54 on the bar 53 the fingers 39 and 40 are disposed horizontally andproject inwardly toward each other as shown in Fig. 5. Now, when thelever is swung to the left (Fig. 4) to a position determined by a stop55, the arms 51 and 52 swing outwardly to dispose the fingers 39 and 40in vertical position.

In the operation of the apparatus described above, an inert ornonoxidizing gas is delivered continuously into the heating chamber 11and allowed to escape through the outer end of the quenching chamber sothat air is always excluded from both chambers even during the shortperiods of opening of the doors 14 and 27 to load or remove the worktrays. While a new tray of work is being loaded into the furnace throughthe opening 12, the rear door is closed and the transfer bars areretracted into the quenching chamber as shown in Fig. 4 with theirfingers 39 and disposed vertically.

Upon completion of the heating of the work, the door 15 is opened andthe handle 53 is pushed inwardly sliding the rods 38 and the fingers 39into the heating chamber 11 and past the tray 17 therein. The handle isthen turned to the position shown in Fig. 5 thus rotating the rods 38inwardly and swinging the fingers 39 in behind the tray 17 in thechamber 11. Next, the handle and the entire transfer mechanism arepulled outwardly to slide the tray along the furnace floor, through thefurnace outlet 13 and opening 34 in the framework 33, and onto theplatform 22, this motion being limited when the fingers 39 encounter theguides 46 as shown in Fig. 3. During this sliding movement, the rods 38hold the tray in its transverse position and prevent it from cocking orbecoming jammed in the furnace or on the platform 22.

The work in the tray supported on the platform 22 may now be quenched bylowering the platform into the bath 20. This is accomplished bydeenergizing the actuator 29 whereupon the platform descends by gravity,the fingers 39 and the adjacent end positions of the bars 38 passingthrough the recesses 37 in the framework 33 without interference. Sincethe transfer rods 38 are disposed above the platform 22 and spacedsomewhat from opposite sides of the tray, the latter passes freelythrough the opening between the rods. Similarly, since the horizontalposition of the tray on the platform is not disturbed during thequenching operation, the tray again comes in between the transfer rodsas the platform is again raised by energization of the actuator 29.

While the first tray of workpieces is in the quenching tank 21 and thetransfer mechanism is in retracted position, a second tray may be loadedinto the chamber 11. After the second tray has been heated, the door 15is opened and the rods 38 are again pushed into the furnace 10 past thesecond tray 17. Meanwhile, the elevator 19 has returned the platform 22to its raised position, and the first tray 17 is again positionedbetween the rods 38. Now, when the handle 47 is swung clockwise (Fig.5), both sets of fingers 39 and 40 will engage the trays in the chambers11 and 10 and these trays will, as the handle is pulled outwardly, betransferred onto the platform 22 and the shelf 23 respectively. Whilethe second tray is being quenched, the door 28 may be opened and therelatively cooled tray resting on the shelf 23 may be withdrawn from thequenching chamber.

It will be apparent that the double transfer bar arrangement abovedescribed is easily operated from the exterior of the fully enclosedheating and quenching chambers which may, during the transfer of thework out of the heating chamber and into the quenching liquid, bemaintained fully closed. At the same time, the transfer rods hold theposition of the work tray during its transfer and thus locate itproperly on the platform 22 for lowering and raising withoutinterference with the transfer mechanism. Moreover, the transfermechanism is extremely simple in its construction and in its mounting.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled opening to permit a work tray tobe slid along the floor of said chamber and out of an opening in saidfurnace, a quenching tank adjacent and below said furnace opening, aplatform mounted in said tank to move vertically into and out of anelevated position at the level of said floor, mechanism operable to movesaid platform vertically into and out of said position, a casingenclosing said tank and said platform and extending to said furnaceopening and defining a chamber communicating with said heating chamberthrough said opening, two parallel rods mounted above said platform toslide endwise through said opening into and out of said heating chamberbetween a first position above said floor and a second position abovesaid platform, said rods being laterally spaced apart to receive andhold a work tray between them, and a finger rigid with and projectinglaterally from each of said rods and swingable in behind a transversepart of a tray when the rods are turned while in said first position,said fingers, while said rods are being withdrawn from said heatingchamber, sliding a work tray along said floor out of said heatingchamber and onto said platform.

2. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled opening to permit a work tray tohe slid along the floor of said chamber and out of said furnace, anelevator adjacent said furnace opening and having an elevated positionat the level of said floor, two parallel rods mounted above saidelevator to slide endwise through said opening between a first positionabove said floor and. a

second position above said elevator and laterally spaced apart toreceive and hold a work tray between them, a finger rigidly mounted oneach of said rods and projecting laterally therefrom to swing in behinda transverse part of a tray to pull the latter from said floor to saidelevator when said rods slide from said first position to said secondposition, a quench tank disposed beneath said elevator, said elevatorbeing adapted to lower the tray away from said rods and into said tankand to return the tray to its former position between said rods, andmeans to turn said rods to thereby swing said fingers into and out ofengagement with a work tray.

3. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled opening to permit a work tray tobe slid along the floor of said chamber and out of said furnace, aplatform adjacent said furnace opening and at the level of said floor, aquench tank disposed beneath said platform, mechanism for lowering saidplatform into said tank, two parallel rods mounted above said platformto slide endwise through said opening between a first position abovesaid floor and a second position above said platform and laterallyspaced apart to receive and hold a work tray between them, a fingerrigidly mounted on each of said rods and projecting laterally therefromto swing in behind a transverse part of a tray to pull the latter fromsaid floor to said platform when said rods slide from said firstposition to said second position, and means to turn said rods thereby toswing said fingers into and out of engagement with a work tray.

4. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled outlet opening to permit a worktray to he slid along the floor of said chamber and out of said furnace,a quenching tank adjacent and below said furnace opening, an elevatorhaving an elevated position above said tank at the level of said floorand a lower position in said tank, a casing enclosing said tank and saidelevator and extending to said furnace opening, said casing having awall remote from said furnace with a door controlled opening thereinalined with said furnace opening, two parallel rods mounted above saidelevator and journaled in said casing wall to slide endwise through saidoutlet opening between a first position above said floor and a secondposition above said elevator, said rods being laterally spaced apart toreceive and hold a work tray between them, a finger rigidly mounted oneach of said rods and projecting laterally therefrom to swing in behinda transverse part of a tray to pull the latter from said floor to saidelevator when said rods slide from said first position to said secondposition, said elevator being adapted to lower a tray into said tank andreturn the tray to its former position between said rods, and meansoutside said casing to turn said rods to thereby swing said fingers intoand out of engagement with a work tray.

5. In a heat treating furnace, the combination of, means defining aheating chamber and an adjacent quenching chamber communicating with theheating chamber through a door-controlled opening, a platform mounted insaid quenching chamber for vertical movement into and out of a quenchingbath from a position at the level of the floor of said heating chamber,mechanism operable to move said platform vertically into and out of saidposition, a stationary shelf mounted at said floor level within saidquenching chamber on the side of said platform opposite the heatingchamber, a pair of rods disposed above said platform and shelf andmounted for angular movement and also for endwise sliding into and outof said heating chamber through said opening, and two arms projectinglaterally from each of said rods and spaced along the latter to movesimultaneously in behind work trays in said heating chamber and on saidplatform during turning of the rods after entry thereof into the heatingchamber, said trays being slid onto said platform and said shelfrespectively during endwise retraction of the rods out of the heatingchamber, and means by which said rods may be turned to carry said armsinto and out of tray-engaging positions.

6. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled opening to permit a work tray tobe slid along the floor of said chamber and out of said furnace, aquenching tank adjacent and below said furnace opening, a platform abovesaid tank at the level of said floor, a framework rigid with andextending above said platform and defining an opening therein alinedwith said furnace open ing to permit a tray to be slid out of theheating chamber through the framework opening and onto said platform, apower actuator disposed above and connected to the top of said frameworkinto said tank and to raise the platform therefrom, two parallel rodsmounted above said elevator to slide endwise through said openingsbetween a first position above said floor and a second position abovesaid platform and laterally spaced apart to receive and hold a work traybetween them, a finger rigidly mounted on each of said rods andprojecting laterally therefrom to swing in behind a transverse part of atray to pull the latter from said floor to said platform when said rodsslide from said first position to said second position, said platformbeing adapted to lower the tray away from said rods and return the trayto its former position between said rods, and means to turn said rodsthereby to swing said fingers into and out of engagement with a worktray.

7. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of a furnace having aheating chamber and a door-controlled opening to permit a work tray tobe slid along the floor of said chamber and out of said furnace, aplatform adjacent said furnace opening to receive a work tray slidoutwardly therethrough, a quench tank disposed beneath said platform,mechanism for lowering said platform into said tank, a casing enclosingsaid platform and defining a chamber communicating with said heatingchamber through said furnace opening, said casing having a wall on theside of said platform opposite said opening, a pair of rods mountedabove said platform and journaled in said casing wall for angularmovement and also for endwise sliding into and out of said heatingchamber through said opening, a pair of stationary guides, one for eachof said rods, disposed between said platform and said opening and spacedapart to maintain said rods parallel to each other thereby to hold atray positioned between said rods against lateral displacement, and afinger rigid with and projecting laterally from each of said rods andswingable in behind a tray when the rods are turned after projectionthereof into said heating chamber, said fingers, while said rods arebeing withdrawn from the chamber, sliding a work tray along said floorout of said heating chamber and onto said platform.

8. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a wall structuredefining a heating chamber and an adjacent quenching chambercommunicating with the heating chamber through an opening, a platformmounted in said quenching chamber to receive a work tray slid throughsaid opening, two parallel rods mounted above said platform andprojecting through and journaled in an outer wall of said structure forrotation and for endwise sliding into and out of said heating chamberthrough said opening, said rods being laterally spaced apart to receiveand hold a work tray between them, a finger rigid with and projectinglaterally from each of said rods to swing in behind a transverse part ofa tray, means rigid with the outer end of one of said rods and defininga pivot, a lever fulcrumed on said pivot, and means to transmit turningmotion of said lever to said rods to rotate the latter in oppositedirections and swing said fingers into and out of engaging relation withrespect to a tray on said furnace floor.

9. In a heat treating apparatus, the combination of, a wall structuredefining a heating chamber and an adjacent and operable to lower saidplatform quenching chamber communicating with the heating chamherthrough an opening, a platform mounted in said quenching chamber toreceive a work tray slid through said opening, two parallel rods mountedabove said platform and projecting through and journaled in an outerwall of said structure for rotation and for endwise sliding into and outof said heating chamber through said opening, said rods being laterallyspaced apart to receive and hold a work tray between them, a fingerrigid with and projecting laterally from each of said rods to swing inbehind a transverse part of a tray, a handle outside said structure, andmeans connecting said handle to the outer ends of said rods to swingsaid fingers inwardly and outwardly with movement of said handle backand forth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

